Turkey: Pakistan buys 30 T129 attack helicopters

Pakistan will purchase 30 of the Turkey-made T129 helicopters used in battle fields, the Turkish defense industry directorate said Friday.

“Contract negotiations on T129 ATAK helicopters between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and the Pakistani Ministry of Defense Production were finalized,” the Directorate said.

The defense authorities have not disclosed the cost of the transaction.

Under the deal, Turkey will also provide logistics, spare parts, training and ammunition. The delivery of the 30 attack helicopters will span over three years.

The deal has been in the pipeline since last year. In an interview late last year, Pakistani Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain told Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu that his country planned to procure 30 attack helicopters and four naval ships from Turkey, Daily Sabah reports.

The transaction is the biggest foreign export by the Turkish defense industry.

The aircraft, defined as Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopters (ATAK), are equipped with two-seat, twin-engine, new avionics, sight systems and weapons, modified airframe, an uprated drive train and a new tail rotor.